Collapsible tube



E. C. DAVIDSON COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Aug. 23, 1932.

Filed Feb. 8, 1932 INVENTOR Edward C flayz'dson BY M @691) v I ATTOI-IQNE Patented Aug.23,1932 7 1,872,637

warren stares Parent EFFICE EDWARD C. DAVIDSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN i i l V COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Implication. filed. February 8,1932. Serial No. 531,680.

This invention relates to collapsible tubes intended to limit the invention claimed herefor use in dispensing materials or paste like in beyond the requirements of the prior art. substances of a more or less plastic or viscid Referring to the drawing herein, I have nature, such for example, as medicinal salve-s illustrated by way of example, a present preprepared in a gelatinous or semi-fluid condiferred form of the invention. There'is 'illus-. 55 tion, tooth paste, shaving cream or the like. vtrated at 9 a collapsible metal tube of con- An object of the invention is to provide an ventional construction having at its forward improved means whereby the user may disor discharge end a rigid tapered portion 10 pense or discharge the contents of the tube converging into a screw threaded. neck 11 in substantially predetermined amounts. adapted to be closed by the usual screw cap ea A further object'of the invention is to pro- 12. It will be understood that before filling vide a device which may be utilized in conthe tube with paste or other contents D the nection with collapsible tubes of standard rear end of the tube is open and the entire make without any change in the construction tube-in this condition is cylindrical from the thereof and by virtue of which the dispensing open end to the reduced discharge end; (is of the tube contents may be controlled in ac- In the present instance, referring particuorda ce withpreseribed am unt larly to Figs; 4; and 5, a controllingv member Other objects of this invention will appear is provided for permitting the user when apin the following description and appended plying pressure with his fingers to the tube claims, reference being had tothe accompanyto predetermine the amount of the tube con- 70 ing drawing forming a part of this specificatents which may be discharged at one timetion wherein like reference characters desigfrom the tube. A member 13 is provided forv nate corresponding parts in the several views. this purpose which in the form shown in Fig. 1 is a longitudinal View of a collapsible Figs. 4 and 5 is in the form of a cylindrical tube, partly in section, illustrating one way plug 14 of a size and shape to fit within the Z5 in which the invention may be carried out. tube and adapted to be disposed at the dis- Fig. 2 is a similar View illustrating the charge end thereof as shown in the drawing. method of dispensing the tube contents. The rear end of this memberv 13 provides a Fig. 3 is another View of similar nature partition across the interior of thetube, and

illustrating the condition of the tube after a this cylindrical portion of the member is flatso dispensing operation. ted orrelieved at one side 15 to provide a pas- Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a control sage'to permit the tube contents to be' forced member which is disposed within the tube past theobstruction. 'At the same side the for predetermining the discharge of the tube member 13 is relieved to provide a tapered or contents. inclined face 16 which, when the member is 5 Fig. 5 is a section through lines 55 of positioned as shown in Fig. 1, forms a cham- Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows. ber B adjacent the discharge neck. Thus the Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another Flarger substantially cylindrical end of the form of control member. 1 member 13 separates the chamber B from the Before explaining in detail he presen main chamber A of the tube, these chambers 90 vention it is to be understood that the invennormally communicating through the pastion is not limited in its application to the sage Cformed by the relieved portion 15. In details of construction and arrangement of the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the tapered parts illustrated in the accompanying drawface 16 is preferably grooved or hollowed out ing, since the invention is capable of other to conform to the thumb of the user and fa- .95

embodiments and of being practiced or carcilitate discharge of the tube contents. This ried out in Various ways. Also'it is to be b however, may be provided with a understood that the phraseology or terminolflat tapered face 17, if desired, as shown in ogy employed herein is for the purpose of dethe modified form in Fig. 6.

scription and not of limitation, and it is not In operating the device the user may dis- "1&

chamber B will be discharged as shown at 19 in Fig. 2. The limit of inward collapse of the tube wall, as shown at 19, will determine the amount of discharge at each operation,

which will always be substantially the same. After this operation the end of the tube, which is closed by the usual tab 9a, is coiled up tightly so as to force additional tube contents into the chamber B and to fully expand the wall of the tube throughout its length.

From the foregoing it will be seen that 1 have provided a relatively simple and elli cient means for dispensing the tube contents in predetermined amounts. 'vice 13 may be formed of any suitable mate- The control derial such as wood, metal or a composite nonmetallic substance, and may be constructed in different sizes .0. fit different tubes, and may be designed so as to vary the amount of tube contents dispensed. The construction of this device is such as to permit it to be inserted through the open end of the tube after which the tube may be filled and the end closed in the usual manner. Thus the invention does not require any change or modification in the tube construction.

I claim: 1. A collapsible tube having a discharge neck, a device disposed within the tube adjacent said neck and providing a partition forming a discharge chamber normally com municating by a passage in the partition with the rear portion of the tube, said device 'cooperating with the tube wall when pressure is applied in the locality of said chamber to close said passage and permit discharge only of the contents of said chamber.

' 2. A collapsible tube having a discharge neck, a member disposed within the tube adjacent said neck, said member having an arcuate wall fitting the tube to form a transverse partition and also having a relieved portion providing a chamber adjacent said neck and a passage past said partition connecting the chamber and the rear portion of the tube, said relieved portion cooperating with the tube wall when pressure isapplied opposite said member to close the passage therebypermitting discharge only of the contents of the chamber.

3. A collapsible tube having a discharge neck, a member disposed Within the tube adjacent said neck and having a cylindrical portion fitting the major portion of the interior tube wall to provide a transverse partition, said cylindrical portion being relieved at one side to form a chamber adjacent the tube neck and a relatively shallow passage connecting said chamber with the rear portion of the tube, said relieved portion cooperating with the tube wall when pressure is applied progressively from the end of the relieved portion forwardly to control the discharge of the tube contents from said chamber.

4. A collapsible tube having at one end a discharge neck, a member insertable through the opposite end of the tube and adapted to be positioned adjacent said neck, said member separating the tube interior into two chambers and having a passage connecting the chambers, said member also having a face variably spaced from the tube wall and adapted to cooperate with said wall when pressure is applied thereto for predetermining the amount of tube contents discharged from one of said chambers through said neck.

5. A collapsible tube having at one end a discharge neck, a member insertable through the opposite end of the tube and adapted to be positioned adjacent said neck, said member separating the tube interior into two chambers and having a passage connecting the chambers, said member also having a face variably spaced from the tube wall and adapted to cooperate with said wall when pressure is applied to the wall opposite said member for discharging the tube contents only from the space between said face and wall. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDlVARD C. DAVIDSON. 

